Role

:

Ensemble

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

The Hartt Contemporary Players is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 1981 by composer and conductor Robert Carl. The ensemble is based at the University of Hartford's Hartt School of Music in Connecticut, and is made up of faculty members, students, and guest artists. The ensemble's main members have included Robert Carl, who served as the ensemble's artistic director and conductor from its founding until 2013, and composer and pianist David Macbride, who has been a member of the ensemble since its inception. Other notable members have included composers Stephen Gryc and Ken Steen, and percussionist Benjamin Toth. The Hartt Contemporary Players have performed a wide range of contemporary classical music, including works by composers such as John Cage, Steve Reich, and Philip Glass. The ensemble has also commissioned and premiered numerous new works by contemporary composers, including Robert Carl, David Macbride, and Stephen Gryc. One of the ensemble's most notable performances was a concert in 1993 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., which featured the premiere of Robert Carl's "The Geography of Loss." The piece, which was commissioned by the Kennedy Center, was inspired by the AIDS epidemic and was dedicated to the memory of Carl's friend and fellow composer, Paul Jacobs, who had died of AIDS. The Hartt Contemporary Players have also been recognized with numerous awards and honors. In 1995, the ensemble was awarded the ASCAP-Chamber Music America Award for Adventurous Programming. In 2001, the ensemble was awarded the Connecticut Commission on the Arts Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts. In addition to their performances and awards, the Hartt Contemporary Players have also been involved in educational outreach programs, working with students in schools and community centers to introduce them to contemporary classical music. The ensemble has also collaborated with other arts organizations, including the Hartford Symphony Orchestra and the Connecticut Opera. Overall, the Hartt Contemporary Players have established themselves as a leading ensemble in the world of contemporary classical music, with a commitment to both performing and commissioning new works and engaging with audiences through educational outreach programs.

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